Mie Prefectural Assembly resolves opposition to wartime legislation

The Mie Prefectural Assembly on May 17 adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the contingency bills, the first such among the 47 prefectural assemblies in Japan.

The resolution raises the following points: (1) because the key phrase of "situations of armed attacks on Japan" covers "predicted attacks," the concept of contingency allows any interpretation; (2) the rights of the prime minister and the state will be increased more than ever before; and (3) people's fundamental rights and property rights are in danger of being violated.

Mayor Uehara Kimiko of Kunitachi City in Tokyo on the same day sent a copy of a questionnaire to Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro, shedding light on the problems of the wartime bills.

Uehara, who is supported by the Japanese Communist Party and other parties, stated that the contingency bills give fears and worries to Kunitachi citizens.

She asked the prime minister to answer her questions on six major points, including the relationship between the three wartime bills and the Constitution, what are meant by the situation of armed attacks against Japan and the role of local governments.

On the part of the bill allowing the prime minister to urge local government heads to carry out his directives concerning "measures to deal with armed attacks on Japan," the mayor questioned if a local government head has different views from that of the prime minister, isn't it appropriate for the former to act under the constitutional provision on local self-autonomy. (end)